Tape the terminals and take them to the store
Loose batteries and accumulators are not part of the WEEE collection and must be returned to the red cardboard boxes of stores with the terminals taped. Portable batteries pose a fire hazard if returned along with WEEE, so the instructions should be taken seriously. Since even dead batteries usually have some charge left, taping the terminals prevents heating caused by short circuits. Leaking batteries and accumulators should be placed separately in small plastic bags and taken to the battery and accumulator collection. Notify the staff if you are returning a damaged battery.
Stores do not collect large lithium batteries used in electric transportation such as e-bikes, mopeds and scooters, as well as balance boards. The collection locations for them are found on the kierratys.info website.
Do not store batteries and accumulators at home
It is safest to remove batteries and accumulators from devices as soon as the device is taken out of use. Loose batteries should not be stored at home, but the safest thing to do is to take them to collection box at the store on your next shopping trip. Make sure that your child or pet does not have access to button batteries, which are particularly dangerous if swallowed.
Repel Zombie battery – handle the accumulator with care
Always handle battery-powered devices with care and in accordance with the user manual, and charge the device only with a suitable charger. Do not twist, squeeze, or drop the device or battery. If the battery heats up significantly, bulges or produces sound, stop using the device.
A battery or accumulator hiding in storage boxes or buried in mixed waste may pose a fire safety risk. If damaged, discarded lithium-ion battery or lithium battery can come back to life as a “zombie battery” and explode, catching a fire. More info: Zombie Batteries
Save yourself in a battery fire
If you notice a battery fire, leave the room and evacuate immediately. Call the emergency number 112. A battery fire produces deadly gases quickly and is often difficult to extinguish. Bring batteries and accumulators to a store for their intended recycling and electrically powered device to a WEEE collection.
Recycling of batteries and accumulators
Used batteries and accumulators are transported to a company specializing in their recycling, where they are sorted by hand. More than 50% of the raw materials contained in batteries and accumulators can be reused in industry. Used alkaline batteries are used to produce, for example, fertilizer suitable for organic farming. In addition, batteries and accumulators provide iron, zinc, manganese, silver, cobalt, copper, nickel, cadmium and lead. Battery and accumulator producer association Recser Oy manages the battery recycling in Finland. More info: paristokierratys.fi